Skip to main content
An official website of the United States government
Government Funding Lapse
Because of a lapse in government funding, the information on this website may not be up to date, transactions submitted via the website may not be processed, and the agency may not be able to respond to inquiries until appropriations are enacted.

The NIH Clinical Center (the research hospital of NIH) is open. For more details about its operating status, please visit cc.nih.gov.

Updates regarding government operating status and resumption of normal operations can be found at opm.gov.

Email

New Covid Vaccine to Prevent Infection and Transmission

Person watching a webinar on a laptop computer.

March 13, 2024 | 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Add to Outlook Calendar

Register to attend a free NCI webinar to learn about a new adjuvanted subunit mucosal Covid-19 vaccine. Study results show that this new vaccine prevents SARS-CoV-2 transmission and infection. Most SARS-CoV-2 vaccines focus on delivering immunization through an intramuscular injection. This new technology combines an initial intramuscular injection with subsequent intranasal boost administration of a novel, molecular adjuvant nanoparticle formulation. The technology is available for collaborative development and/or licensing.

The Inventor

Jay Berzofsky, M.D., Ph.D.
Chief, Vaccine Branch
Center for Cancer Research
National Cancer Institute

About the Technology

This vaccine technology includes a unique nanoparticle formulation comprised of a SARS-Cov-2 spike protein antigen combined with TLR agonists (CpG & Poly I:C and cytokine IL-15) as adjuvants, encapsulated in PLGA or DOTAP nanoparticles. 

In vivo and transmission study results demonstrate that:

  • The mucosal vaccine induces robust humoral and cellular immunity, as well as trained innate immunity in vaccinated macaques. 
  • Following SARS-CoV-2 intranasal and intratracheal exposure, vaccinated macaques did not show detectable subgenomic RNA in either of their upper or lower respiratory tracts, compared to naïve controls. 
  • Vaccinated macaques were more effective at clearing input virus in the nasal mucosa from which it could be transmitted to others. 
  • The vaccine is effective at preventing transmission from vaccinated infected hamsters to naïve hamsters co-housed with them.  

These results show that this mucosal vaccine can protect against respiratory SARS-CoV-2 exposure and may enhance the protective effect of systemic vaccines, making it a good candidate for a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Its ability to prevent transmission to individuals without immunity addresses an important public health need–something that other vaccine modalities have not demonstrated.

Competitive advantages:

  • Stimulates both systemic and mucosal immunity; induces both humoral and cellular immunity, as well as trained innate immunity.
  • Leads to more effective virus clearance from the upper respiratory tract from which it could spread.
  • Stimulates sustained immune response.
  • Protects against SARS-CoV-2 variants.
  • Prevents or reduces onward transmission to others, addressing an important public health need.
  • Intranasal administration avoids painful injection. 
  • Notable improvement for manufacturing yield and cost, ease of administration, and distribution as compared to current candidates.

Commercial applications:

  • Adjuvanted mucosal subunit vaccines (as single agents) 
  • Vaccine composition(s)
  • Co-administration to enhance the effect of systemic immunization

 

Email